For a record-tying 11th time, New Orleans will host the Super Bowl and has witnessed stinkers (Chicago 46-New England 10 and San Francisco 55-Denver 10) and thrillers (New England 20-St. Louis 17 and Baltimore 34-San Francisco 31) through the decades. Miami also has hosted 11 times.
Entering Sunday night’s Kansas City-Philadelphia Super Bowl, here are 11 storylines for the week:
1. Three-peat history
The 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers couldn’t do it, same for Washington and San Francisco in 1980s/1990s and the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick New England Patriots in the 2000s. The Kansas City Chiefs are one win away from becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls (Green Bay won NFL titles from 1929-31 and 1965-67 in the pre-Super Bowl Era). They are already the first three-peat bid team to even have the chance at the hat trick.
The Chiefs, who beat Philadelphia and San Francisco in the last two Super Bowls, opened the week as a 1½-point favorite and have won a record 17 consecutive one-possession wins, including 32-29 over the Bills in the AFC championship game.
2. Home-region coach
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni, 43, grew up in Jamestown and attended Southwestern Central High School before moving onto the Division III football factory at Mount Union (Ohio). Sirianni entered the NFL with the Chiefs in 2010, but wasn’t retained by then-new coach Andy Reid after the 2012 season.
Sirianni went on to the Chargers and Colts as an assistant and was hired by the Eagles in 2021. He has a 53-23 regular season/playoff record.
3. Greatest-ever territory
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes isn’t entering Tom Brady Territory. More like Michael Jordan Territory. At age 29, Mahomes will be playing in his fifth Super Bowl and trying for his fourth title.
Brady didn’t win his fourth Super Bowl until age 37 and Jordan won his fourth NBA title at age 32. Mahomes has a 17-3 career playoff record.
4. Game’s best player
More bad news for New York Giants fans and general manager Joe Schoen: Running back Saquon Barkley is still playing and he is Philadelphia’s best shot.
Barkley left the Giants for Philadelphia during the offseason and is arguably one of the best free-agent signings in league history. He gained 2,005 yards in the regular season and if the Eagles win, he could be the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since 1998 (Denver’s Terrell Davis).
5. Officiating issues
Ron Torbert and a selected crew get the whistles for Chiefs-Eagles and you know what the national narrative buzz will be – the Eagles will face two opponents (Kansas City and the officials).
In their last 12 playoff games, the Chiefs have had fewer penalties than their opponent, yep, all 12 times As Bills fans can attest, Philadelphia shouldn’t hope for a favorable measurement.
6. All-star coordinators
Two football lifers will be tasked with slowing down Mahomes and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, 66, is back in the Super Bowl for the first time in 11 years and helped the Eagles finish first in fewest points and yards allowed during the regular season.
Kansas City’s Steve Spagnuolo, 65, is the only defensive coordinator in Super Bowl history with four rings – one with the Giants and three with the Chiefs.
7. Defensive standouts
The Chiefs’ defensive line is anchored by Chris Jones, who brings inside/outside versatility to every game – he’ll beat a guard on first down and a right tackle on third down. The Chiefs have 10 sacks in two playoff games.
The Eagles’ Jalen Carter may be the best defensive player in the game. He has two sacks in the postseason, but his durability makes him a consistent threat vs. the run and pass. Carter had 12 tackles for lost yardage in the regular season.
8. Eyes, ears on Brown
From Monday-Thursday, all ears will be tuned to Philadelphia receiver A.J. Brown, who is bound to say anything. On Sunday night, he will be a problem for Kansas City’s defense.
Brown averaged 16.1 yards per catch in the regular season (67 catches-1,079 yards-six touchdowns) and has 12 catches in three playoff games.
9. Kelce keeps on
Get ready for plenty of camera pans to Taylor Swift on Sunday night. First, Fox knows its audience will include non-football fans pining for shots one of the world’s most famous people. Second, Fox will have said opportunity because Kelce has 31 catches in four previous Super Bowls.
Figure on Kelce making more than the two catches he had against the Bills.
10. Brady in the booth
Two years ago, Brady was completing his career with a playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Last year, he completed his first season of retirement. And now Brady will be in the broadcast booth for the Super Bowl, which annually produces the biggest television audience of the year.
Brady will be scrutinized (as he should) and his lack of access to the Eagles and Chiefs (the NFL office’s response to him owning a piece of the Las Vegas Raiders) could make for a vanilla telecast.
11. Paying the power bill
Let’s hope the City of New Orleans has paid up its account to keep the Superdome lights on. We’re only semi-kidding. During the last New Orleans Super Bowl – Baltimore over San Francisco in February 2013 – the game was delayed because of a power outage.
